Board of Deputies may introduce term limits for representatives
British Jewry's representative body is considering capping the number of stints any elected person can serve
British Jewry’s representative body has proposed capping the number of consecutive and total stints its representatives can serve, in order to bring in “new ideas”.
In a position paper published this week, Board of Deputies’ senior vice-president Richard Verber said: “Term limits are hardly new.”
Verber suggested introducing the concept of terms of service, “to consist of a defined number of years, and establish the number of consecutive terms that can be served by a member before needing to stand down for a term or two… before being eligible to stand for election again”.
He added: “It is also proposed that we establish a maximum cumulative number of terms that a Deputy can serve.”
Before being elected senior vice-president two years ago, Verber set up a pressure group called ‘Changing the Board.’ He campaigned on “overhauling the Board’s governance structures” and “a representative Board, with power in the hands of Deputies” but did not mention term limits for Deputies.
In the paper published on Friday, he said: “Most organisations benefit from a regular infusion of new people, perspective and ideas, while valuing the experience that participants who have been there longer bring to the discussion.”
Currently Deputies can serve for as many years as they or their constituency wish, and Verber said that where Deputies had served many years, “the majority of congregants may not realise that they have an opportunity to become involved, possibly because elections are rarely held, or because it would seem disrespectful to stand against a more senior congregant”.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
